Dr. Peterson stated rather plainly that his definition of "success" was the movie making back all the money that went into producing it, plus enough left over to make a new film.
It seems clear at this point that "Witnesses" is a rather spectacular act of priestcraft. The whole thing was set up to get Latter-day Saints to sink their hard-earned money into yet more Mopologetic projects, and to help glorify Daniel C. Peterson and his hobbies.
I disagree slightly, Doctor Scratch. Why does he have to make back all the money? Those were donations. Any revenue is totally his, to use for the next movie. It's the time-honored thoroughly despicable lds way: use tax-free donations to secretly start a profitable enterprise, and then insist no donations are forwarding one's profitability.
Since the finances were moved to a private LLC, Peterson has no legal obligation to be transparent regarding how they are used. Another time-honored lds loophole. Let people who can least afford it finance one's way into profitable businesses, and then the last step is just hoarding the money for one's private benefit, which in this case seems to be his plan to continue being a movie producer. Thanks to all those hard-earned donations he requested in the name of his religion, he can now finance his private dream.
Moving the whole production to a for-profit allows for the typical Hollywood model. The movie project itself loses money, becoming a tax credit for the future. Studio execs and various production partners pay themselves exorbitant consulting fees. Rinse, repeat. It's extra awesome if using inexpensive talent.
Since the finances were moved to a private LLC, Peterson has no legal obligation to be transparent regarding how they are used.
That explains why they chose to move it. The deliberate lack of transparency suggests the financial accounting for this film wouldn't be faith promoting, nor conducive to soliciting further funds. Interpreter Movies inc. is following the pattern of the Church in that regard. If there's nothing to hide...why hide it?
The modest box office figures this week suggest that the film may not be in theaters much longer.
As for me and my house, I plan to make a special trip to Panguitch tomorrow night with my soulmate and helpmeet to see Witnesses while feasting on the Gem’s famous salmon tacos (blackened salmon gently laid on a warm flour tortilla, blanketed with generous helpings of pickled onions and shredded cabbage, and crowned with a drizzling of Utah’s very best fry sauce), and finishing off several bottles of caffeine- and alcohol-free rhubarb Fresca. Life is good.
“But if you are told by your leader to do a thing, do it. None of your business whether it is right or wrong.” Heber C. Kimball, 8 Nov. 1857
Those look mighty tasty, Tom! It looks like we’re just a week or two away from being able to officially call the film a “box office flop.” I wonder how “SeN” will react when that happens?
"If, while hoping that everybody else will be honest and so forth, I can personally prosper through unethical and immoral acts without being detected and without risk, why should I not?." --Daniel Peterson, 6/4/14
As for me and my house, I plan to make a special trip to Panguitch tomorrow night with my soulmate and helpmeet to see Witnesses while feasting on the Gem’s famous salmon tacos (blackened salmon gently laid on a warm flour tortilla, blanketed with generous helpings of pickled onions and shredded cabbage, and crowned with a drizzling of Utah’s very best fry sauce), and finishing off several bottles of caffeine- and alcohol-free rhubarb Fresca. Life is good.
Say hi to Lou Midgley for us— I’m sure he will be there to heckle/greet you.
Those look mighty tasty, Tom! It looks like we’re just a week or two away from being able to officially call the film a “box office flop.” I wonder how “SeN” will react when that happens?
I noticed just now a note from the co-executive producer:
Like all movies, the Interpreter Foundation’s Witnesses film will eventually come to the end of its theatrical run. And that end is much closer now than it was a few weeks back. If you’ve been meaning to think about perhaps maybe possibly seeing it sometime, your time is running out. And yet, as Sean Means, the movie critic for the Salt Lake Tribune, pointed out weeks ago, Witnesses is a film that really looks good on a big theater screen. So don’t procrastinate. And if there are people in your family or neighborhood or among your friends or in your ward or stake who, in your judgment, ought to see Witnesses, please consider ways to help or to encourage them to do so. Sooner rather than later. This weekend, for example, would be a really good time.
I gather that the co-executive producer is close to throwing in the towel. It’s a bit sad.
Still, I’m looking forward to tomorrow night’s showing. I’ve heard an unconfirmed report that the actresses who portray Sally Chase and Fanny Alger in the film will make a special appearance at the Gem to meet and sign autographs for moviegoers.
“But if you are told by your leader to do a thing, do it. None of your business whether it is right or wrong.” Heber C. Kimball, 8 Nov. 1857
As for me and my house, I plan to make a special trip to Panguitch tomorrow night with my soulmate and helpmeet to see Witnesses while feasting on the Gem’s famous salmon tacos (blackened salmon gently laid on a warm flour tortilla, blanketed with generous helpings of pickled onions and shredded cabbage, and crowned with a drizzling of Utah’s very best fry sauce), and finishing off several bottles of caffeine- and alcohol-free rhubarb Fresca. Life is good.
Say hi to Lou Midgley for us— I’m sure he will be there to heckle/greet you.
That’s a possibility. If he does show up at the Gem, though, I think I’ll try to buttonhole him for an interview for my forthcoming biography, Louis C. Midgley: Political Philosopher, Cultural Mormon, Junkyard Dog for the Lord.
“But if you are told by your leader to do a thing, do it. None of your business whether it is right or wrong.” Heber C. Kimball, 8 Nov. 1857
